Garment retainer



Jan. 29, 1952 1.. PETERS GARMENT RETAINER Filed April 15. 1949 2 SHEETSI--SHEET 1 L. PETERS GARMENT RETAINER Jan. 29, 1952 Filed April 15, 1949 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 try/ m,

Patented Jan. 29, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GARMENT RETAINER Leo Peters, Evanston, 111.

Application April 15, 1949, Serial No. 87,798

7 Claims,

This invention relates to a garment retainer, and more particularly to improvements in garment retainers which are adapted to receive coat hangers, garments, etc., and to clamp or secure them against unauthorized removal.

There has long been a need for a garment retainer which may be secured to the outer surface of a door or building panel and which permits the housewife to secure the garments against removal except by an authorized pick-up or delivery man from a dry cleaner or laundry plant, etc., the retainer also serving to retain the delivered garments until they are removed by the housewife. In such garment retainers, it is highly desirable that construction costs be kept at a minimum and that the structure be as compact as possible. In order to achieve such simplicity and low cost, it is important that the parts of the retainer be reduced to as few as possible and a consolidated and substantially unitary structure produced.

An object of the present invention is to provide a garment retainer of few parts and of simplified structure while at the same time providing the necessary protection against unauthorized removal of the garments. A further object is to combine the separate functions served by the hook and latching bar of the retainer into a unitary structure serving the functions of both. A further object is to provide a consolidated hook, latching bar and lock therefor, and with the parts so related as to efiectively latch a clamping member against unauthorized removal. Yet another object is to provide a latching structure at a central point in the clamping member or closure of the garment retainer so that the clamp is effective for retaining the garments without the use of side hinges or side latching constructions. A further object is to provide added strength to the garment hook by employing a latching bar which operates within and as a part of the hook. Yet another object is to provide means for locking which will operate in a consolidated hook and latch bar structure. A further object is to provide new and improved means for retaining garments against unauthorized removal and in which a minimum of parts is employed through the utilization of a centrally-located latching mechanism. Other specific objects and advantages will appear as the specification proceeds.

The invention is illustrated in preferred embodiments by the accompanying drawings, in Which-- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a garment retainer embodying my invention; Fig. 2, a view similar to Fig. 1 but showing the closure clamped in elevated position; Fig. 3, an enlarged broken vertical sectional view; Fig. 4, an enlarged vertical sectional view of the upper portion of the case and showing the means for releasing the latch; Fig. 5, a perspective view of a garment retainer constituting a modified form of the invention; Fig. 6, an enlarged vertical sectional view of the structure shown in Fig. 5;; Fig. 7, a perspective view of the closure clamp provided with a latching bar; and Fig. 8, a broken vertical sectional view similar to Fig. 6 but showing the latching bar in released position.

In the illustration given in Fig. l, A designates a garment retainer; and B designates a door to which the garment retainer A is secured.

While in many instances, the garment retainer A will be found to be most conveniently attached to the rear door of a dwelling, it will be understood that the retainer may be secured to any building panel. The retainer may be utilized for release of the clamping member from the inside or outside of the building panel or door or from either side. a

In the specific illustration given, the closure A preferably includes a casing member 10 and a closure or clamping member II. The casing member [0, as illustrated best in Figs. 2 and 3, provides a rear wall 12 which may be secured to the door B by screws, nails, or other means, and side walls [3. The side walls 13, as shown more clearly in Figs. 2 and 3, each have a lower vertical portion l4, an inwardly sloping portion [5, and an upper vertical portion I6. I

The clamping member or closure l l is provided at its top with an inwardly-extending wall I! which is connected to the top wall of the rear wall [2 by a hinge I8. I

Fixed to the closure H and extending inwardly and downwardly therefrom is a curved latch bar l9 provided at its lower portion with ratchet teeth 20.

Fixed to the rear wall I2 of the casing l0 and extending outwardly therefrom is a tubular hook or support 2|. The hook member is cut away at 22 to receive a locking bolt 23. The bolt 23 is provided with slots through which extend the retainer bars 24, and a spring 25 normally urges the bolt 23 in, a downward direction.

Secured to the upper end of the bolt 23 is a flexible draw member 26 which extends upwardly through a tube 21 and over the door B. The lower end of the draw member may be provided with a ring 28 to facilitate drawing uponthe at its other end member 26 to release the bolt 23 from engage- 'll'lellt with the latch bar It.

The tubular member or hook 2| may be utilized for supporting clothes hangers 29, and I prefer to insert the looped or arched portion of the garment hanger over the member 2| so that the hooks 30 of the clothes hanger extend above the member 2|, as shown more clearly in Fig. 3. In the specific illustration given, the garments and the arched lower portions of the hangers are covered by bags 3|.

I prefer to equip the latch bar l9 with ratchet I teeth having an inclined forward sideanda vertically-pitched rear side for engagement with the lower end of the bolt 23 which as shown I more clearly in Fig. 3, has a straight forward side and an upwardly and rearwardly'-inclin'ed rear side. With this structure, the latch bar may be pressed inwardly so that it will automatically latch at the innermost points .at Which the clamping member ll inaybe pressed. I I I Any suitable means may be provided 'for em ablin'g an authorized person to release the clamp I from the outside of the door or building panel.

In the specific illustration given, I provide a lock-'- ing case'32 inone of the vertic'zalcasing walls i6, and a key-controlled tumbler33 is rotatably secured within the casing 32: The tumbleris provided with an eccentric arm 34 which engages one end of a lever 35 pivoted at 3'6 and having I a ball 31 engaging a socket 38 within the bolt 2 3; I I II I I It will be understood that the clamping mem ber; ll may be suitably reinforced by pressing ribs or longitudinal indentations thereim'and preferably the lower end of the clamping memberis rolled to prO Yi'de a rolled edge 39. Similarly, the lower end "of the casing wall I2 is prefer; ably provided with a rolled edge 40, as shown bestinFigz fih II I I I I WhileQI have shown a k ey-controll'ed barrel 33, it will be understood that a combination lock or any other means for safeguarding rotation oi the barrel against use by unauthorized persons may be employed.

In the operation of I the I structure shown in In the modification illustrated in Figs. 5 to 8 inclusive, the door 13 is provided with a retainer C. The retainer C preferably includes 2. casinginem-ber providing a rear wall t2, upwardly and inwardly-inclined side walls as, and a floatin closure or clamping member id.

The rear wall of the casing may be secured to the outside of the door B, and the door may be provided with a passage located somewhat centrally of the rear wall. Therear wall 42' is equipped with atubular and forwardly extendingmember 46 aligned with the passage t5; Tel escopically received within the tubular member 46 is a tubular guide member 41. The outer end of the tubular member 41 is rigidly secured with= in an opening inthe closure member 4 5, as shown best in Fig.6; I I

A cylindrical latch bar 43 is rotatably received within the tubular member 4'! and is provided at its inner end with a series of ratchet teeth dt. To the insideof the door is secured aplunger casing 50 within which is guideda lockingbolt or plunger 5!. A spring 52 normally urges the bolt 5| downwardly, and a handle 53 is provided for manually raising the bolt or plunger 5 i.

In order to prevent rotation of the member 48 by an unauthorized person, I equip the outer end of the member 43 with a key-controlled lock 54. Rotation or the key withdraws Figs. 1 tqA inclusive, the garment hangers 29 7 may be placed over the support 2| by the delivery man, a's'illustrated best in Fig. 3. The

clamp H may then be presseddownwardly and inwardly so as to bring the clamp into tight engagement with the garment, the spring-urged bolt. 23. serving to engage the teeth 25 of latch bar l9. Since the latch bar extends centrally from the closure H. The sides of the closure or clamping member I I need not be engaged by the side walls of easing l0, and an eXtremely 'sturdy gripping contact between the member 13 and the garments is brought about.

When the housewife returns, she may readily release the closure l l by drawing the draw member 28 from the inside of the door or building panel. The closure ll may then be swung outwardly to the position shown in Fig. 2.

When the housewife wishes to leave garments in the retainer so that they may later be picked up by the dry cleaner pick-up man,.she may place the clothes hangers with the garments thereon 'over the support 21 and then press the clamp ll inwardly to latched position. The

pick-up man later releases the latch bar by inserting his lz'eywithin the barrel 33 and rotating it to release the catch and continuing to turn the barrel and pin 34fsofa's to move the adj s ent "end or the latch bar 3?) d0vi!llvvar(31 57and the ball a lock bolt 55 from a recess 56 in the fixed tubu lar casing 41.

Hangers 51 may be placed over the tubular II member 46, as shown more clearly in Fig. 6, and

the garments covered with ported thereon, as illustrated. I I, I I

In the operation of the modification shown in bags may be sup Figs. 5 to 8 inclusive, the housewife may place the hangers 57-, containing garments to be picked up,'upon the member 46 and the clamp ill may be pressed inwardly to jclamping position, as shown in Fig. 6. To facilitate this movement, the clamp may be provided with a handle 58. When the pick-up man arrives, he inserts his key within the lock 54 and rotates it to withdraw bolt 55 from engagement withrthe recess 56. the fixed tubular casing 4?. The latch bar may then be rotated to release position, as shown in Fig. 8. In the released positionth'e clamping member 44 may be drawn outwardly to "open the retainer case. moved. After the garments are dean, they may be returned by the delivery man and placed upon the tubular'suppbrt and the c amp 44 may be moved to closed position, illustrated in Fig. s. 7

When the housewife returns, she may release the clamp 44 by drawing the handle 53 upwardly to release the plunger 51 from engagement with the teethof latch bar 48. I

In each of the structures illustrated, a minimum of parts is employed, "whileat the same time, by the location of the latching structure centrally of the closure, an extremely effective gripping action is obtained which prevents an:

authorized re no'v'n or the garment I Wm1ethe-hangrsza shat-1 ma beusedas ee latching The garments may then be resired, I find that the special arrangement shown increases the security of the garment against removal because it is the arched portion of the hanger which extends over the support. The combination of the latching and lock structure in a single compact arrangement centrally of the case and closure eliminates the necessity for lateral locking members and greatly reduces the number of parts required for safeguarding the garments against unauthorized withdrawal.

While in the foregoing specification, I have set forth specific structures in considerable detail for the purpose of illustrating certain embodiments of the invention, it will be understood that such details may be varied widely by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit o my invention.

I claim:

1. In a garment retainer, a case adapted to be secured upon a building panel and having a tubular hool; member extending outwardly in an arcuate position, a closure hingedly connected to the top portion of said case, a latch bar secured to said closure and extending inwardly in an arcuate position for telescopic engagement with said hook member, a lock-controlled bolt supported upon said panel for engagement with said latch bar, and a flexible element connected to said bolt and extending to the inside of said panel.

2. In a garment retainer, a case adapted to be secured to a building panel and having an open rear side, a closure movable to a position closing said case, telescoping support members carried by said closure and case, a latch bar carried by said closure and extending through one of said tubular members, a lock-controlled bolt carried by said panel for releasable engagement with the teeth of the latch bar, and a handle accessible from the inside of the panel for withdrawing said latch from engagement with said latch bar.

3. In a garment hanger structure of the char acter described, a case adapted to be secured to a door and having a rear open side, a tubular hook member supported upon said door and extending into said case, said tubular hook memher being adapted to receive thereon the arched portion of a garment hanger, a closure movable to a position closing said case, a tooth-equipped latch bar carried by said closure and extending into said tubular hook member, a latch movably supported upon said door for engagement with the teeth of said latch bar, spring means normally urging said latch toward said teeth, key- 6 controlled locking means operable from outside the door for releasing said latch, and means operable from inside the door for independently releasing said latch.

4. In a garment hanger, a case adapted to be secured to a door and having an open side, a tubular member supported upon said door and extending into said case, said tubular member being adapted to receive thereon the arched por tion of a garment hanger, a closure movable to a position closing said case and equipped with a latch bar telescopically engaging said tubular member and provided with teeth, a bolt movably mounted upon said door for engagement with the teeth of said latch bar, key-controlled locking means operable from outside the door for releasing said latch bar from said bolt, and means operable manually from inside the door for withdrawing said bolt independently of said key-controlled locking means.

5. The structure of claim 4, in which the closure is hingeably mounted upon the top portion of the case.

6. The structure of claim 4, in which the closure is carried by said latch bar for horizontal movement into and out of said case.

7. In a garment hanger structure, a case adapted to be secured to a door and having a tubular member extending inwardly in an arcuate position, a closure hingedly connected to the top portion of said case. an arcuate latch bar secured to said closure and telescopically engaging said,

arcuate tubular member, said latch bar being provided with spaced teeth, a lock-controlled bolt supported upon said door for engagement with the teeth of said latch bar, and separate means operable from inside the door for releasing said bolt from engagement with said latch bar.

LEO PETERS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS France Oct. 4, 1911 

